Hutchinson wants to keep focus on jobs as he takes officeLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - After a heated campaign where he touted himself as the candidate best prepared to be the "jobs governor," Republican Asa Hutchinson says boosting Arkansas' economy will be his focus as he takes over the state's top office. The ex-congressman and former federal Homeland Security official will be sworn in Tuesday as Arkansas' 46th governor, succeeding outgoing Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe. Hutchinson's win over Democrat Mi...

A user's guide to the Arkansas Legislature's 2015 sessionLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas Legislature convenes Monday for its regular legislative session. A new governor takes office on Tuesday. A rundown on the session and how to follow the lawmakers' activities: WHAT'S AT STAKE? - The biggest question lawmakers face revolves around the future of the state's "private option" Medicaid expansion, which uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for low-income residents. The program was cra...

Rogers man killed after single-vehicle accident on I-49LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas State Police say a 49-year-old man was killed over the weekend in a single-vehicle accident on an icy Interstate 49. Authorities say Mark Londrie and another person were riding in a vehicle driven by a Rogers resident early Sunday morning on the interstate north of Winslow. Troopers say the vehicle slid off the road in a left-hand curve before overturning multiple times. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://b...

Little Rock police say woman charged in brother's deathLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Little Rock police say a 52-year-old woman has been charged in her brother's death. Vickie Arriaga is charged with first-degree murder. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports police say she hit herself on the head to make it appear that her brother, 51-year-old Cecil Massey, had been abusing her. Officers responded to the residence they shared in Little Rock after a neighbor called to report an assault in progress. Auth...

Arkansas Air National Guard has first female commanderFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas Air National Guard's 188th Air Wing has a new commander. Col. Bobbi Doorenbos took over Sunday during a ceremony in which she replaces Col. Mark Anderson. Doorenbos becomes the first female commander of an Arkansas National Guard wing, but told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1AHQ6oo ) that doesn't impress her much, noting that she has been a female her entire life. Doorenbos will command about...

Arkansas AG urges $97K pay raise for successorLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The outgoing Democratic attorney general of Arkansas is urging a panel reviewing elected officials' salaries to more than double his Republican successor's pay. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Monday recommended that the Independent Citizens Commission raise incoming Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's pay from $73,132 a year to at least $165,000. The seven-member panel was created to review and adjust salaries for ...

University of Arkansas chancellor returning to facultyLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The chancellor at the University of Arkansas' flagship campus said Monday that he will give up the post July 31 and return to the faculty. He said he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren. G. David Gearhart has directed the campus in northwestern Arkansas since 2008, and it has grown from 19,000 students to 26,200 during that time. He was an adept fundraiser, directing its advancement division through a $1.04...

Arkansas lawmakers begin 2015 legislative sessionLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas lawmakers began the 2015 legislative session Monday, facing questions about the future of the state's compromise Medicaid expansion and a push by the incoming governor to cut income taxes by $100 million a year. Members of the House and Senate gathered at the state Capitol for the 90th General Assembly, with leaders vowing to work together after an election where Republicans swept statewide offices and expande...

Appeals court rules Oklahoma executions can proceed OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court has denied a request by four Oklahoma death row inmates for a stay of execution, paving the way for the state's first lethal injection since a problematic execution in the spring. In a ruling Monday, a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver denied an emergency motion requested by the inmates for stays of execution. One of the attorneys for the death row inmates, Dale B...

1,300 vote early in Senate racePope County had more early voters for the District 16 Senate race than the other four counties in the voting region combined. District 16 encompasses all of Pope and Newton counties as well as parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Buren counties. The Pope County Election Commission reported 1,214 people voted during the first week of early voting. As of Friday afternoon, 112 people had voted early in the other four eligible counties. The higher turn...

Obituary: Gay MontgomeryGay Anderson Montgomery of Russellville, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born in Hope to Cecil Burl and Edna Inez Walker Anderson. She was the co-owner and co-operator for over 35 years of Montgomery Homes in Jacksonville, was a two-star judge for the Miss Arkansas Organization, an avid Razorbacks fan, and attended New Life Church in Russellville. She was the epitome of the word “lady” and...

Obituary: Linda EdensLinda Geier Edens, 55, of Fort Smith, formerly of Russellville, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith. The daughter of Don, Sr. and Maxine Brown Geier, she was born July 28, 1959, in Pittsburg, Kan. Linda was a 1977 graduate of Russellville High School and received a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from the University of Central Arkansas. She worked as an X-Ray Technician and was a member of the...

Obituary: Jean GainesDANVILLE — Martha Jean Gaines, 85 of Waldo passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Chambers Memorial Hospital in Danville. She was born Jan. 11, 1929, in Stamps to the late Lewie Chester “Buddy” and Susie Marie Tatom Fields. She was retired from Alcoa where she worked in the accounting department. She was a member of the Magnolia Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stewart Harold Gaines; her parents; grandson, Steven Delan...

Obituary: Rebecca BeaversRebecca (Becky) Beavers, 74, of Russellville earned her angel wings on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Ozark. Left to cherish her memories are her best friend and adopted grandson, Johnathan Holbrook and his family. Becky is preceded in death by her husband, Earl Beavers; and her parents, Homer and Wilma English Iddings. She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Carolyn Iddings of McEwen, Tenn. Becky loved riding ...

Obituary: Richard JudahCLARKSVILLE — Mr. Richard Carol Judah, 80, of Kingston, Ala., passed away Jan. 3, 2015, in Andalusia, Ala. He was born Aug. 6, 1934, in Sampson, Ala., to F.J. and Lona (Churchwell) Judah. Mr. Judah is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Frances (Andrews) Judah. He is survived by his sons, Darwin Judah of Lamar, Richard Judah of Clarksville, Billy Judah of Clarksville and David Judah of Atkins; brothers, Grady Judah of Troy, Ala., and Os...

News Briefs (Jan. 11, 2015)Single Parent Scholarship Fund applications The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pope and Yell County is accepting applications for the spring semester until Thursday. If you are a single parent or know of a single parent living in Pope or Yell County and want to attend college but need some financial assistance, call (479) 970-8800 or go to www.pycspsf.org for more information. Pope County Retired Teachers meeting The Pope County Retired Tea...

News Briefs (Jan. 10, 2015)Arkansas Valley Chapter OES meeting The Arkansas Valley Chapter of the Order Of The Eastern Star will meet on Monday. The meeting for installation will begin at 5 p.m., and a dinner will begin at 6. The normal meeting will begin after the dinner. Tri-Peaks Tourism Association meeting The Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Association will conduct its monthly open meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center ...